The Future of Independent Journalism in Europe
Independent Journalism at Risk
The debate about the objectivity of news organisations and the values of independent journalism is not limited to the United States. It has also been gaining traction in Europe in the last few years. As the CEO of Belga News Agency and the current president of Group 39, a consortium of 11 independent European news agencies, I have some experience in this matter. This article is partly inspired by pieces from the Columbia Journalism Review and a recent long-read essay by A.G. Sulzberger, Publisher and Chairman of The New York Times.
This article explores the challenges faced by independent journalism in Europe and its vital role in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Threats to Independent Journalism
Independent journalism faces a mix of recent challenges that significantly threaten our free press. News organisations are struggling financially, and this leads to downsizing and closures. Attacks on journalists are rising, compromising their safety. Press freedom is increasingly under pressure. Moreover, the proliferation of disinformation, conspiracy theories, artificial intelligence, and clickbait has eroded public trust in journalism to a sad and historic low level.
Essence of Independent Journalism
Independent journalism requires reporters to adopt a searching posture, seeking the truth about the world and reporting about it based on facts. It requires humility and demands fairness, impartiality, and objectivity as aspirational ideals, even if they can never be achieved fully. Independent journalism is based on confidence in the public's ability to comprehend and utilise the truth wisely.
Challenges to Independent Journalism
Critics of independent journalism argue for an alternative model based on more personal perspectives and convictions. Some say journalists cannot overcome their biases and thus hide behind a false objectivity that conceals their liberal worldviews (a comment from the right) or favours the perspective of straight, white males (a statement from the left).?
However, independent journalism is built on the belief that journalists must comprehensively understand the world, differentiating facts from opinions. In an era marked by polarisation and misinformation, independent journalism is essential for the proper functioning of our democracies and for effectively addressing our contemporary challenges.
Role of Independent Journalism in Democracies
Independent journalism plays a central role in democratic societies, promoting the existence of common facts, and a shared reality and fostering an understanding of fellow citizens across all our differences. This approach enables a diverse and pluralistic society to unite for its self-governance. The correlation between the health of democracies and the freedom of the press is undeniable. Just look at the maps of both: they are almost identical.
Principles of Independent Journalism
Our news organizations' commitment to journalistic independence is evident at every stage of their operations. Our primary objective is to publish only what we know, even if it means missing a story. Errors are openly corrected, and transparency is upheld. Journalists try to engage with the people they write about and give the accused opportunities to respond. Multiple sources are used to verify information and healthy skepticism is maintained. Pieces are reviewed not only for factual accuracy but also for fairness. Ethical guidelines are strictly enforced to prevent conflicts of interest, and stylistic approaches minimize bias by avoiding partisan terminology and provocative labels.
Protection Against Business Interests
Independence also safeguards journalism from being distorted by business interests. These protections are not just rooted in ethical considerations, but they are also embedded in the systems, processes, and structure of news organizations. Journalists are shielded from any form of influence by advertisers, maintaining their integrity and autonomy.
Counterintuitive Nature of Independent Journalism
Independent journalism sometimes requires a counterintuitive approach. That means we have to be open to the possibility that a suffering refugee child may not be telling the truth or that a tyrant accused of persecuting millions may be falsely accused. Critics often question who could benefit from such journalism. The answer lies in the benefit to society and the truth itself. A well-informed community makes better decisions and fosters trust, empathy, and care. Independent journalism empowers individuals to make informed choices and remains credible using this approach.?
Importance of Diverse Voices
The journalistic process is designed to amplify a diversity of voices, not only in reporting but also in editing. Including various perspectives helps people understand those they disagree with and recognize differences with those they thought they agreed with. Journalism should illuminate questions and debates to facilitate progress in our society.
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Navigating Public Criticism
Journalists often face criticism from individuals and groups who feel misrepresented. While accountability and transparency are crucial, public criticism can be manipulative, undermining journalists' legitimacy or morality. Independent journalists should not be intimidated but, on the contrary, continue to report fearlessly.
Declining Trust and Lack of Diversity
European citizens' trust in news media is declining, as evidenced by various studies. The dominance of straight, white men in newsrooms is another issue, even with recent progress in diversification.?
To ensure comprehensive and nuanced reporting, newsrooms should become more diverse, and we should encourage collaboration among European news agencies.
ENR: European Newsroom: A Unique Opportunity
The European Newsroom, a cooperative project involving news agencies across Europe, presents a unique opportunity. This initiative provides training, education, and the development of journalistic standards. Fact-checking and verification tools combat the spread of disinformation and propaganda, ensuring quality journalism. By providing equal access to information, the European Newsroom enables comprehensive and diverse reporting across national borders, fostering unbiased and independent reporting.
Experience of the Media Landscape in Belgium
Belgium's media landscape mirrors some of the challenges faced in the European news space. With separate Dutch-speaking and French-speaking media outlets, limited interaction exists between these two worlds, despite having a Belgian federal government. The Belgian experience offers valuable insights into overcoming barriers in collaboration and representation among European agencies.
Some points of advice
To preserve independent journalism, we could consider emphasising on some specific points:?
Role of Other Stakeholders
Search engines, social media platforms, and AI chatbots significantly create conditions that threaten independent journalism. These platforms must differentiate and elevate reputable independent news sources to counter the spread of misinformation and polarisation. Regulation might be a must to achieve this goal.?
Preserving Democracy through Independent Journalism
Attacking the free press endangers democracy. Anti-journalism rhetoric and actions have caused the erosion of democratic norms in less democratic countries. The European people risk losing the most from these trends, as they benefit from shared facts, understanding, and engagement with the larger world.
The Value of Independent Journalism
By upholding journalistic independence, more people, regardless of their background or perspective, will recognise the value of journalists serving democracy and freedom.?
Independent journalism actively guides readers to a fuller, fact-based understanding of the world. It embraces inclusivity, recognizes the potential impact of its reporting, and contributes to transparency and accountability.?
Independent journalism is indispensable to a well-informed society and a cornerstone of our European democracy.